We are pleased to announce the recipients of this year's VERVE Research Commissions 2023/24: Nick Coutsier and Phoebe Jewett.
VERVE Research Commissions are a paid opportunity for artists from any movement background to research their practice, without prescribed outcome. Each artist will have bespoke research time with VERVE’s highly skilled dancers, plus feedback and mentoring from NSCD staff.
Speaking of the selection process, VERVE Artistic Director and Curriculum Lead Matteo Marfoglia said:
"This year we received over 130 applications, from a global mix of artists working across a range of practices and approaches to contemporary movement and beyond. The calibre was extremely high, including both emerging and more established artists. Having just two commissions to award made for a very difficult decision process.
“Nick and Phoebe both impressed with the strength of their applications and stood out for many reasons. As emerging artists, both are still on a journey of discovery, yet both demonstrated a sophistication and approach to their practice that is exciting and current, with human connection and stories at their heart. I look forward to welcoming them to the studio over the coming months where I am sure they will no doubt enrich the experience of VERVE company dancers, as well as deepening their own artistry."
Read on to learn more about each of this year's artists.
With a background in hip-hop and house dance styles, Belgian dance artist Nick Coutsier worked as a commercial dancer for music videos and tv-programs in Belgium and France before attending the Artesis Plantijn Royal Conservatory, graduating with a BA in Contemporary Dance in 2015.
After graduating, Nick worked with Lali Ayguadé, in productions Kokoro and iU an Mi, Theo Clinkard in This Bright Field, Eszther Salomon in Monument 0.4 Lores & Praxes, and collaborated with Connor Schumacher and Marine Mane.
In 2018 Nick joined the Eastman Company directed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, performing in the opera Shell Shock at the Paris Philharmonie, and in productions including Nomad (2019) and VLAEMSCH (2022). In that same year Nick was invited to be a guest dancer with the Royal Ballet Flanders and has since been invited to perform as guest principal dancer in the Opera production Satyagraha.
In 2019 Nick joined the cast of Black is King, a film co-written, executive produced, and directed by Beyoncé.
In addition to performing in theatrical productions, Nick has worked as a movement director for fashion brands such as Marine Serre, Moncler, Rains, Gucci and more recently for Louis Vuitton in collaboration with Pharrell Williams.
Phoebe Jewitt is an award-winning choreographer and artistic director of Switzerland-based contemporary dance company PITT. Born in the UK, Phoebe grew up travelling in Southeast Asia and in Switzerland, obtaining her Bachelor in Contemporary Dance from Zürich University of the Arts. During this time Phoebe had already begun exploring her own movement language, and was two-time winner of the Migros Kulturprozent Award as well as finalist in the Swiss Youth Research Competition.
Phoebe began her career at Tanz Luzern in 2019. In 2021, Phoebe won the Copenhagen International Choreography Competition, alongside two production awards for her work For Old Times’ Sake. Her work with PITT has since been expanded and is currently touring internationally at theatres and renowned festivals across Europe and Asia.
Alongside her work with PITT, Phoebe frequently creates work for other companies and programmes, such as Tanz
Luzern, DAF Dance Arts Faculty and Brückerei. Phoebe’s movement style and approach to choreography stem from an interest in cognitive and social psychology, driven by an intrigue in human nature and how we function as individuals within the community around us.
